NBC has given a back-nine order to its drama series Chuck, just over a month before the show's second-season premiere.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Chuck returns at 8 p.m. Sept. 29. The show had a solid but abbreviated first season because of the writers strike. It's understood that NBC executives have been impressed with what they've seen from the first six episodes of the show's second-season order and decided to hand out an early full-season pickup.

Chuck stars Zachary Levi as the title character, a computer geek who suddenly finds himself in a new career as the government's most vital secret agent.

Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak created the series. They also exec produce with McG and Scott Rosenbaum.